When I designed my 3.2 metres long van (1.9H, 1.9W) we did so incorporating a shower and port a potti.
I'm not posting to brag about my design ability but this shower tray measurement is 960x565mm. That area allows for the potti, shower and the convenience of turfing wet clothes and shoes when needed. A large access hatch allows for the convenience of emptying without carrying down steps.
I'm 127 kg and 180cm high and its tight but OK. My wife hunted eBay for the waterproof dunny roll holder, etc
Having stopped at many caravan parks with other nomads I'm surprised how many vans don't have this facility. Nomads much older than us trekking to the toilet in the dark.
For us it was a number 1 need and remains so.
When buying a van or in its design stage did you have a toilet as a priority?
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
Funnily enough, when I bought my van I didn't want a loo within.
I had a look at around 20 second hand vans and they stank of sewerage or chemicals so bad my wife wouldn't step into most of them.
So we bought the Avan and used the old system of external tent and exterior shower set up. But at -2 deg in the Coorong we decided on an internal toilet. I self built it, and after about 9 years we haven't had one regret and no leftover odors with the right cleaning methods and a vacuum toilet.
I reckon you did well building one in yourself as it is a bit of a job. Well done.
You may not wish to hear of the alternatives employed by those without a Caravan Loo, who do not wish to make a trip in the dark in an unfamiliar Caravan Park...while the rain is falling..with bindi eyes that penetrate Ugg Boots....and the magic of the moment, plus the urgency, makes you forget their 4 digit dunny door codes.....and decide not to.....employing urgent cunning instead......
I can tell you from past experience through the years when we had vans without Loos.... that they don't generally leave the Van...or not quite....lmao......let me put it this way...women are at a distinct disadvantage to us blokes.....however just as resourceful with No1's.........its our dog who refuses to go inside....and we must go outside in the rain to accommodate him.... As we get older and we live life in dribs and drabs....and it does not all arrive in one go...perhaps 6 times a night......rather than in our younger years with one forceful shot straight out the door of the freecamp area..was one of life's true pleasures.....internal Van Loos become a necessity...not a luxury....in later years...properly maintained there is no odour..
One trap I have found is attempting to squeeze one wee toooo many into the cassette when its red lining!.....bit of a clean up required when removing the cassette.....lol...
When we stay in the donga for say 10 days we never use our internal Loo just set up ensuite Coleman toilet/ Coleman shower next to Van..... My thoughts anyway....Hoo Roo
-- Edited by goldfinger on Thursday 9th of June 2016 11:35:43 PM
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'The secret of happiness is not in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less'.Socrates BC399.
'Be a Cheerful Nomad, not a Grumpy Gromad, it's the Surly Bird who catches the Germ'!
Got me in stitches here. Lucky mi loo is 60 cm away.
Tried diets am fit as a fiddle. DNA is all big people.
Had an auntie once that was 28 stone at 50yo. Sums...400lb umm kilo? Anyway made it to 78yo.
I think I'm taller lying down.
Anyway thanks for the love eh. :)
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
Why do vans with en-suites cluster around toilet blocks like chooks feeding on a pile of wheat? Because they don't use their en-suite very often & it sometimes becomes a storage area or extra wardrobe. We use a night bucket as do many others. Next time you're at an overnight rest area have a look at the owners of vans with en-suites going to & fro to the loo just like those without en-suites. In caravan parks watch them doing the same plus carrying a towel & bathroom bag. We bought a van without an en-suite by choice, why bother dragging an extra 3-4ft of van around plus the weight. We use a Thetford Porta Loo when we camp out in the bush, great piece of hardware. En-suites seem to have become a prestige item, if you haven't got one you're just not in the hunt at happy hour. As with most things it boils down to personal choice.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Friday 10th of June 2016 05:38:18 AM
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Cheers Keith
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts, of beauty rich & rare. We'll be out there enjoying it somewhere, camped by ourselves much of the time.
We changed over to our current caravan that has a toilet, shower, and hot water. The shower and hot water don't worry me , BUT has made the wife happy as not happy about going to the loo in the middle of the night.
I have seen both sides Eaglemax, with and without.
When I first started out many moons back now I had a Avan 'Sportliner' camper trailer and used a 20lt bucket with a toot seat and lid on, found in most camping stores. All worked as I was a solo traveller so didn't matter if I used it inside, the lid kept any smell under control while not being used, I also had the toilet treatment in the bucket.
When I decided to go on the road full time, still solo and upgrade to a full aluminium tee pee (oops) I wanted a full ensuite as I am getting older like all of us and as already mentioned in another comment above I unfortunately need to visit said room more frequently so didn't want to risk life, limb and most importantly, walking to the toot block.
I also use the shower a lot if not in a CVP. I also use the shower cubicle to have a good basin wash if conserving water is needed. If in a CVP I tend to use their showers most of the time but my own toilet.
All works for me but might not for others. I also believe it is a personal choice.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
we have a loo and shower in our van but use alternatives when available. As we do a lot of bush/el cheapo camping it is a necessity. As it is when travelling and doing overnight stops in rest areas. I would also imagine that a loo and shower ensures a much better re-sale price.
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
Having a toilet and shower woud ensure a better re-sale value. They are not luxuries but necessities. I would never expect anyone with me to use a bucket, or have to keep leaving to go use a toilet, there is just to much against not having an internal one, when weather is not good, when its pitch black in the night, especially at times when someone isn't feeling to well, everyone at some point would have suffered with diarohea or vomitting and I shudder to think how embarrasing that would be to deal with without a toilet. And thats getting down to the nitty gritty of it. Yes having a toilet is a priority.
We have a motor home . Strange thing is we are near always put close to amenities . We don't need them . It's just the way camping grounds seem to be made elect power sites are often the closest to toilets . The poverty pac are out back ..
Yes, it's certainly much easier for males. I will admit to using a urinal like you use in hospital, but with a lid on. This way I don't even have to get out of bed. I will probably keep doing this until I get my water container mixed up!
Yes, it's certainly much easier for males. I will admit to using a urinal like you use in hospital, but with a lid on. This way I don't even have to get out of bed. I will probably keep doing this until I get my water container mixed up!
SWMBO would have never started vanning without an en-suite van.
We always ask for a site with a view & away from the amenities block. Bloody banging doors & constant foot traffic & occasional smells. We usually look at the park map or maybe do a walk or drive around before making our selection.
I always used to use the CP's shower but after one freezing rainy night at Eden I was converted & rarely do so these days. However I use the amenities block toilet during the day .. just because I have paid for it, perhaps.
I think its one of those evolution things where one of these days every van will have something fitted because most of the buyers will want one. Just like cars. The first car I bought new (many many years ago) had rubber mats instead of carpets, the heater was an option which I had to pay for and air-conditioning was unheard of.
Shower/toilet in a caravan.
Is there for one sole reason.
BROWNIE Points with the missus.
We've had both. Madam uses tut all the time.
Park showers if in one.
I use tut at night unless watering the trees.
Always use shower. Too easy.
ALl vans unless pretty small has room for a Portaloo somewhere.
ALL vans should have one. unless living 100% in parks.
eventually we do/are soaking into the water tables.
And the toilet papers you see floating round car stops and overnights
should be enough incentive to make them compulsory I reckon.
That would get rid of at least 50% of it.
Why do some vans have no toilet? Because some of us don't want them. We would sooner have more space for the lounge room. Smaller vans suffer greatly id you take out great slabs of space for an ensuite, particularly a full size one.
I too am amazed with the number who don't use them. In the past I have seen members posting that they only purchased vans with an ensuite for the resale side of things. They don't use them as they are too much trouble to maintain.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
We used to free camp a lot in a Jayco Dove with no dunny but did have a cassette pooper we kept under the tug. To have a thing like that in a small van wase'nt an option for us. In CP's we of course used the facilities on hand. Next Van we are going up market with a full bathroom and hopefully it will be ventilated enough for no odour experiences. We also want a separate bedroom with a solid door I'm sick of these open plan modern designs. Oh yeah back on subject a full flushing pooper with black tanks are meant to be just like home I keep hearing is that right?
When we started looking the mrs wanted an ensuit and I didnt. The wife won and Im now glad even if it did add about 14k to the price. Worth it for the convienience and keeping the mrs happy.
But I am suprised not many makers offer the combo units. They offer convenience and more space at a lower cost.
"We also want a separate bedroom with a solid door I'm sick of these open plan modern designs."
You'll find you have two VERY small rooms if you do that.
Try a van with concertina doors and see.
ONE DAY.. they'll get rid of this "modern' way of building caravans with half of it taken up by a bedroom you use
on average 6 hrs out of 24.
In the /60's when we started vanning.
The double bed came down out of either centre/lounge wall or side wall. Normally sitting on top of lounge seatback frame.
MUCH more sensible. you get full van to use during day.
Nearest to that nowadays. (like this one)
Is 2 singles. with walkway between them
Full length of van utilised Plenty of seating.
And if feeling frisky.
Have a sheet of 1\2 in ply under each single. Swing them round. and do same with mattresses.
You have a lovely double plus bed across van.
back to 2 singles in morn.
I'd never have a double fixed bed in van again.
In caravan parks watch them doing the same plus carrying a towel & bathroom bag. 
En-suites seem to have become a prestige item, if you haven't got one you're just not in the hunt at happy hour. 
As with most things it boils down to personal choice. 
